An excerpt from the book
CANCER ANGEL, based on a true story.
Two days before my 50th birthday, I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and was told that an immediate mastectomy and follow up chemo or radiation was imminent. I thought about my options and decided that I had somehow brought this upon myself. My choices of food and lifestyle, too much stress, not enough sleep and even less exercise had taken their toll. I needed to attract a healthier lifestyle.
My choice of self treatment coupled with a late night email landed me on the Oprah Winfrey show in March where in front of millions of her viewers she asked me if I thought I was being ‘irresponsible’ for not going the conventional route and for taking my life into my own hands. I stood my ground for my right to choose and I would deal with the consequences, good or bad, from my decision.
During the first couple of months when I was dealing with the diagnosis I pondered on such questions as why me? What did I do? What lessons could I learn? Who can I trust? And the always looming question of ‘Am I doing the right thing?"
I struggled with phone calls from doctors urging me to do something before it was too late. I struggled with my own conscience late at night when I lay in bed wondering if my own self confidence was going to be the death of me. But most of all I struggled with the questions of friends and family when they asked how I was feeling, am I keeping track of my progress, do I have a plan?
A plan? Yes, I had a plan. My plan was to not kill myself and come out stronger, smarter and healthier at the end of the journey. Unfortunately I had no idea how to implement this plan. Until that night. That night when I was five months into my unsuccessful 'research' (and knowing that time was running out) a voice interrupted my restless sleep. "What do you want?"
I thought it was my husband until I realized that he was still travelling out of town. With eyes still closed, I waited another moment certain that I had heard something. Perhaps it was the refrigerator downstairs. I knew that it was just a matter of time before it went out completely and lately it had started making some strange noises. I settled back into another restless night of sleep.
"What do you want?" This time I knew someone else was in the darkened room with me and I felt a rush of heat as my heart began to pound. I mentally struggled to quickly determine if the book I had placed on the bed to the right of me would make much of a weapon against an intruder. "Kim, what do you want?"
It was then that I realized whoever it was in the dark room with me knew my name and was female. I quickly reached for the light by the side of my bed and flipped it on. I turned in the direction from where I thought the voice came and stared straight into all too familiar eyes. They were mine and they were looking at me ...
Chapters
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CANCER ANGEL:The Explanation of What Cancer is, Its Prevention and Cure
will be completed in 2008.
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